Being Patient and Enjoying the Ride - Kate Norum's Story

By: Kate Norum

Not everyone knows exactly what they want to do in their life at a young age, but I did. Ever since I was about eight years old I became more intrigued by sports. Don’t get me wrong, I played sports growing up, mainly soccer, but I was more interested in the people on the sidelines reporting. It’s hard to explain but I realized at such a young age, I wanted to go into sports broadcasting. I mean, at that age I had no idea how or where to start, just that I enjoyed sports and talking about them with others. There was one sports broadcaster that really changed the game for me, making it achievable in my eyes and that was Tracy Wolfson. I remember watching the NCAA Tournament, probably 15 or so years ago, and I saw her on the court asking players’ questions and that’s the moment that changed my world. I wanted to do what she does. It was a big deal because normally there are men everywhere in terms of broadcasting, so seeing Tracy on the court changed everything for me and made it seem within reach.

I lived in Vancouver, B.C for about five and a half years, graduating high school up there in 2014. After graduating, the universe had a different outcome than I originally planned. As they say “everything happens for a reason,” and that saying reigns true, even if I didn’t start college immediately after high school. I still kept busy, regardless of the circumstance. I remember getting a phone call, that my grandfather, Jon Peters, was sick with Stage 4 Renal Cell Carcinoma, and my family moved back to the States, living in Birmingham, AL and then to Marietta, GA. Side note* I actually was born in Montgomery, AL and moved to Birmingham,AL when I was roughly five years old and lived there until the end of my freshman year at Pinson Valley High School. Then I moved to Vancouver, B.C, Canada, due to my dad’s job transfer and attended Notre Dame Regional Secondary. 

Vancouver; a new city and a new country, that helped me grow more than I could ever imagine. I started becoming more of my own person instead of who people wanted me to be. I had a support system in not just my family but my teachers and friends that wanted me to succeed. It really shaped me into who I am.  Fast forward to now, I am almost 24 years old, doing everything in my power to make the goal I set for myself at eight years old of becoming a sports broadcaster. I currently write for my school, Kennesaw State University’s, newspaper, within the sports section (of course) and always am keeping a look-out for any and all opportunities. I am living outside Atlanta, GA and constantly utilizing my time for bigger and better things in the future. I remember when I was younger and I would watch various basketball games, football games, golf even. My grandfather would just keep ESPN on the TV whenever I would go over to see him and I guess it stuck to me. Sports are ingrained in me. I can’t wake up without looking up the latest news or watching Sports Center every morning, even if there is currently no sports to report on. I knew back then that I wanted to be in broadcast and now I’m trying to make that happen.

It may seem like a dead-end gig, but I’m not giving up. I am currently finishing up my B.S. in Journalism and Emerging Media from Kennesaw State University after a lot of ups and downs, but it has not deterred me off the path of reaching my true happiness. Aside from all the chaos life may bring, I stay particularly sane by running, watching How I Met Your Mother or Gilmore Girls (Yes, I know they’re off-air now. But, they’re great shows), spending time with my family, and of course watching sports. 

I’m going to continue on being patient and enjoying this ride and whoever is reading this, I hope you do, too

Feel free to follow me on Twitter - @katenorum and connect with me on LinkedIn